Have you heard that one of the special guest speakers at the IBM Information on Demand Conference this year is Michael Lewis? Personally I hadn’t hear of Michael before he was signed to speak at the conference, but once I looked him up, I realized that I knew his work.

Michael was a bond trader and then began writing books. He’s published quite a few already, including some that have become movies:

Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine

Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood

Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity

The Real Price of Everything: Rediscovering the Six Classics of Economics

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game

Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game

Next: The Future Just Happened

The New New Thing: A Silicon Valley story

Trail Fever

The Money Culture

Pacific Rift

Liar's Poker: Rising through the Wreckage on Wall Street

Yes, he’s quite a prolific author! I think the one that most people have heard of is The Blind Side, since it became a very popular movie. I’m listening to the audible version of The Big Short right now and am learning a huge amount about the sub-prime mortgage fiasco of a few years ago.

From what I understand, the topic Michael will be covering at the conference is related to his 2003 book, “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game” . This book offers an unprecedented look behind the scenes of a Major League Baseball franchise, detailing how an innovative personnel approach allows the Oakland Athletics, with the lowest budget in baseball, to rank among baseball’s best and consistently compete for a playoff spot. Michael will explore the nature of talent, how to identify it and maintain an edge in a competitive field.

Joining Michael is Billy Beane who is the mind behind “Moneyball.” Billy is a sports visionary who convinced his bosses to give him the freedom to apply his statistically driven approach to run the Oakland A’s and make them one of the most successful teams in Major League Baseball.

This story resonates not only with the sports-minded, but among audiences from financial services, insurance, or any other numbers-driven industry or profession. He has figured out how to succeed with a limited payroll, employing computers and statistics wielded by people who never played baseball. In a down-to-earth, humorous style, Billy offers concrete lessons for business success and the power behind numbers.

Sound interesting? Check out the movie trailer. The movie is starring Brad Pitt and hits theatres in Sept 2011.

I have a book signing session scheduled for Michael, so you can pick up a book and get it signed. Michael and Billy are speaking Wednesday October 26 at the General Session from 8:15 am – 9:30 am. Michael’s signing is scheduled immediately after that at the Conference Bookstore from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. Four of Michael’s books will be sold at the bookstore at a 20% discount. In the past we’ve sold out of books from the special guest speakers, so make sure you purchase these books early if you are interested.

Soon you’ll be able to add this signing and others to your Smart Site schedule.